Offices Held

Biography

Cooper succeeded his father as Member for the county in 1790 and, though by 1795 he was well disposed to government, went on to oppose the Union. On his return to Westminster, the Castle thought him ‘young-rich-silent’—and procurable. There is little evidence of parliamentary activity. He was in Ireland in March 1803, though he may have been the ‘Mr Cooper’ who on 10 May 1803 objected to the delay in hearing election petitions. In the spring of 1804 it was thought unlikely that he would attend. It was probably Cowper, rather than Cooper, who voted for Fox’s defence motion on 23 Apr. 1804. Pitt’s ministry reckoned him ‘doubtful’ in September 1804 and in December it was noted that he was out of action, ‘in London, deranged’, which was perhaps no excuse for labelling him ‘opposition’ in July 1805. By May 1806 it was reported by the Castle that Cooper’s state of health would not permit of his attendance. At the ensuing election he was replaced by his younger brother and in 1807 relieved of the county militia. He died 8 June 1837.